Get Started
Every neighborhood needs 1-2 leaders!
Could this be you?
Does your neighborhood already have a COPE program?
If not, consider starting your own community. We are here to help.
MEET WITH US
Contact us to discuss your needs and get your questions answered.
Over 60 COPE Communities and Growing!
Our Engagment Specialist can help you start your own COPE community or expand your existing group. We have resources that will help you organize your neighborhood and help prepare for natural disasters.
When emergency responders are busy, your first responders will be the everyday people living and working in your community.
Are you in a COPE Neighborhood?
COPE Communities in Northern Sonoma County (click view full-size pdf)
Why establish a COPE Program in your neighborhood?
- Meet your neighbors and build local community support
- Be better prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake, and other emergencies
- Learn your neighborhood strengths and weakness
- Get ideas and information from COPE, emergency responders, and agencies
- Become self-reliant. Feel confident and empowered
- Help our first responders by doing your part. There are many of us but few of them
You Don’t Have to Do It Alone!
Three Phases to Develop a COPE Community: Plan, Meet Your Neighbors, Maintain
The COPE program is facilitated by Neighborhood Leaders who provide guidance to up to 20 houses in their immediate neighborhood. With support from COPE Community Leaders, these neighborhood teams unite to build community and support each other. The seven steps below are guidelines to help you develop a COPE community. Feel free to modify the steps to meet the needs of your neighborhood.
1. SELECT Your Community/Neighborhood
If you are more than one neighborhood, break it down into manageable neighborhoods. Start small and build up to 20 homes per neighborhood.
2. BUILD Your Community and Neighborhood Leadership Team
We recommend 2 Community Co-Leaders and 1-2 people to serve as Neighborhood Co-Leaders. In some cases, Community Leaders also act as Neighborhood Leaders.
3. SURVEY your Neighbors for information
Learn more about your neighbors and how to contact them in an emergency. We provide sample surveys and spreadsheets to record the data.
4. MEET with your COPE community
Have a meeting with neighbors to get to know each other and create a communication plan. Learn who in your neighborhood might need extra help during an emergency and who has skills or training to assist. Invite COPE leaders and emergency personnel to attend.
5. ASSESS the needs of your Community
What are you and your neighbors most concerned about in your community? Identify possible projects and develop a plan of action. This is often done during the group meeting (Step 4).
6. EDUCATE your COPE Leaders and Neighbors
We have several resources to help. Leaders can participate in our quarterly COPE Leadership meetings and learn about educational opportunities. Get help from our Engagement Specialist and forward our newsletters to your group.
7. MAINTAIN Relationships with Neighbors and Leaders
At least once a year, conduct a COPE Neighborhood Team meeting and update COPE information, as appropriate. Invite COPE leaders and emergency personnel to speak.
Click the CC icon in the video for subtitles (English and Spanish).
The COPE Leader Handbook provides detailed guidance on the 7 Steps to a COPE Program. It is for people new to COPE and for leaders who have established COPE Communities. The Handbook is loaded with links to make your job easier, such as COPE surveys, introduction letters, meeting ideas, a sample communication plan, community assessment tools, and much more.
Click to download
Founding leadership of the Fitch Mountain COPE Program.
Ready to learn more? Contact us to learn more about what is involved in being a COPE leader. Everyone is invited to subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on Facebook.